COME, DREAM AGAIN AT AMERICAN DREAM
American Dream will reopen for guests to explore, shop, and play on October 1
Photographer: Samantha Nandez/BFA.com
East Rutherford, NJ, Sept. 03, 2020 -- Following Governor Murphy’s recent announcement, American Dream will begin welcoming guests again with the opening of retail and reopening of its acclaimed indoor entertainment experiences on Thursday, October 1.
Retailers including H&M, Primark, and ZARA will open their American Dream locations for the first time and DreamWorks Water Park, Nickelodeon Universe, Out of This World Blacklight Mini Golf, and The Rink will reopen Thursday, October 1. Big SNOW American Dream opened Tuesday, September 1st and announcements about additional openings and new experiences will be released soon. To ensure the safety of our guests, reduced attendance levels and extensive health and safety protocols will be observed by all attractions and retailers at American Dream.
“We’d like to thank Governor Murphy, his administration, the New Jersey Department of Health, our legislative delegation, County Executive Jim Tedesco and his team, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority for their collective efforts throughout this process to get to a safe reopening,” said Don Ghermezian, Co-CEO at American Dream.
“We also want to thank our guests and team members for their patience and loyalty while we were closed,” said Mark Ghermezian, Co-CEO at American Dream. “We know that our community has been waiting to return, but it was important to us that we took the proper time and precautions needed to welcome guests back in the safest possible manner. The last several months have been difficult for everyone, and even though we are still adjusting to the new normal, we are confident that we can provide guests a safer environment to make dreams come true for everyone, everywhere, as well as create much needed job opportunities in New Jersey.”
The health and safety of our community is, and will continue to be, our top priority at American Dream. Over the last several months, we have enlisted experts across health, safety, and government to develop in-depth health and safety plans for the property and each of our attractions and retailers. Our COVID-19 Health & Safety plan follows guidelines from State and Local government agencies, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and was built in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, our primary health care partner. Additional details around this partnership will be announced soon.
A few things guests can expect upon their return to American Dream include, but are not limited to:
- Face coverings required for entry into American Dream
- Reduced capacities throughout American Dream and within each of our open attractions
- Increased sanitizing and disinfecting throughout American Dream common areas and attractions
- Hand sanitizer stations and hygiene reminders installed throughout American Dream and within our attractions
- Physical distancing guidance, including ground markings, plexiglass barriers, touchless programming and more
- The Nickelodeon theme park's entrance has been reconfigured to improve traffic flow and make social distancing easier. Rides will limit capacity to provide more space between guests.
Prices for Nickelodeon Universe tickets have been reduced by about $20 from pre-COVID prices and are now based on the age of the guest. Guests over the age of 10 will pay $59, those who are 3 to 9 years old pay $55 and it’s $49 for those over 65. Prices used to vary based on weekday or weekend and access to all the rides or or just the tamer ones. Peak pricing was $79.99.
American Dream is the ultimate family destination, and a central part of that experience includes entertainment, retail, and dining partners. We will be sharing updates about additional openings and new experiences soon.
The news follows Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America reopening in August.
For more information about Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream, visit: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/10/nickelodeon-universe-at-american-dream.html
“As we move closer to a time when families and kids of all ages can once again safely visit Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream, we are pleased to be able to offer a fun and immersive experience with the iconic Nick characters they love. Nickelodeon Universe exceeded all expectations in the several months that it was open pre-pandemic, and we look forward to continued success together with our partners at American Dream” – Gerald Raines, Senior Vice President, Global Location Based Experiences, ViacomCBS
“We are thrilled to reopen our 3-story flagship store and world’s first candy department store. There is nowhere else like American Dream and we look forward to once again immersing the property’s guests back into the world of IT’SUGAR.” - Jeff Rubin, CEO & Founder, IT’SUGAR
“American Dream is truly unlike any retail center in the world. Our ZARA flagship store is a testament to our commitment to American Dream. We know our customers are anxiously awaiting ZARA at American Dream, where they will be able to shop our women's, men's, and children's collections, and we are confident that they’ll fully embrace the innovation that is American Dream.” – Moises Costas, Director of Expansion and Real Estate, Inditex Group (ZARA) USA
“American Dream is an economic imperative for the Greater Meadowlands region and the entire New Jersey economy. The opening and success of this world class facility makes the Meadowlands a primary destination which will provide thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of economic impact for communities. American Dream generates huge visitation for the region, filling hotels and in turn drives visitors to other local destinations. American Dream will be the economic engine for the Meadowlands Sports Complex, helping us attract the world’s most notable events. New Jersey needs American Dream to help revive its economy in a post-COVID-19 era.” - Jim Kirkos, President & CEO, Meadowlands Chamber
American Dream laid off about 100 workers during the pandemic and said in June that it would eliminate 7% of the employees it previously hired. It also said that it would shift its offerings from 55% entertainment and 45% retail to 70% entertainment and 30% retail.
The project’s developer, Triple Five, has struggled financially during the pandemic, with its properties closed and few tenants paying rent. It missed three $7 million payments on its $1.9 million mortgage on the Mall of America. Triple Five used a 49% stake in Mall of America as collateral when it secured $2.8 billion in financing for American Dream, intertwining the two properties
The Canadian-based developer entered into a cash management agreement last month to avoid foreclosure.
Contractors working on American Dream have also filed liens against the developer saying they weren’t being paid.
Seventeen stores have been issued certificates of occupancy and are ready to open, state Department of Community Affairs spokeswoman Gina Trish confirmed to New Jersey 101.5:
Aldo
Arc’Teryx
Asics
Century 21
Columbia
DSW
Fabletics
Hollister
Mac Cosmetics
Pink-Victoria’s Secret
Primark
Samsonite
Sephora
Sunglass Hut
Tumi
Uniqlo.
The retail landscape has changed during the pandemic with Lord & Tayor, which was to have a store at the complex, closing all its stores. GNC included the American Dream location on its list of stores closing.
Trish said the amusement rides that are already permitted and had been operating do not require re-inspection to reopen.
"However a DCA team will be on site to reinspect as part of the standard operating procedure for amusement facilities," Trish said.
American Dream COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan
ABOUT AMERICAN DREAM
American Dream, developed by Triple Five Group, is an unrivaled destination for fantasy, fashion, food, family, and fun. For more information visit www.americandream.com or follow on Instagram @americandream.
Update (9/29) - All 25 of Nickelodeon Universe’s original rides have been approved to open, according to the state Department of Community Affairs (via NJ.com).
From NJ.com:
A new ride called Flip Zone, however, has been taken out of operation by state inspectors because it wasn’t functioning correctly. “Once the necessary fixes are released from DCA’s engineering review, the ride will need another inspection before it is put back in operation,” a DCA spokesperson said.
Five new rides are also in the works for Nickelodeon Universe. Samba Tower, Crazy Bus, Happy Swing, Speed Way and Tea Cup are all in engineering review, the spokesperson said.
Prices for Nickelodeon Universe tickets have been reduced by about $20 from pre-COVID prices and are now based on the age of the guest. Guests over the age of 10 will pay $59, those who are 3 to 9 years old pay $55 and it’s $49 for those over 65. Prices used to vary based on weekday or weekend and access to all the rides or just the tamer ones. Peak pricing was $79.99.
From NJ.com:
American Dream mega mall is hiring as it prepares to reopen
American Dream mall, Nickelodeon Universe, and an NHL-sized ice skating rink opened in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Friday. The mall opened today after years of anticipation. October 25, 2019.Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
American Dream is hiring for full- and part-time positions at its Nickelodeon Universe theme park, DreamWorks Water Park and other venues at the mega-mall.
It is scheduled to reopen Oct. 1 after being closed for more than six months because of the pandemic. American Dream had planned to open its DreamWorks Water Park and an unspecified number of stores and restaurants on March 19, but it shut down March 16 to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Those unveilings are now planned for its reopening Oct. 1. Stores including H&M, Primark and Artizia will open for the first time, as will the Dream Works Water Park. Previoulsy opened attractions Nickelodeon Universe theme park, The Rink ice skating rink and IT’SUGAR, a three-story candy store, will also reopen.
Big SNOW at American Dream reopened Sept. 1, the first day it was allowed to.
Gov. Phil Murphy allowed indoor amusements to reopen Sept. 1 but American Dream delayed its reopening. Mark Ghermezian, Co-CEO at American Dream, said earlier this month that “it was important to us that we took the proper time and precautions needed to welcome guests back in the safest possible manner.”
With two weeks left before the reopening, American Dream is now looking to hire more workers. The available positions include:
- Lifeguard, with paid certified training provided.
- Admission and guest services representatives, who will greet guests and help them purchase attraction tickets and hand out admissions wristbands.
- Ride operator, who will operate heavy machinery, enforce height and rider safety requirements, and interact with guests.
- Retail Associates for Nickelodeon Universe, DreamWorks Water Park, Angry Birds Not So Mini Golf Club, and other American Dream-operated retail shops.
- Ice Rink Attendants who instruct guests on safe usage of The Rink, help with scheduling and reservations, process skate and helmet rentals, collect and sanitize equipment, process all admissions, operate the Ice Resurface and more.
Applicants should apply online through the job postings. The Human Resources Team at American Dream will be hosting virtual interviews with qualified candidates in the coming weeks, with on-boarding/training sessions starting as soon as possible.
Additional career opportunities at American Dream can also be viewed here: https://jobs.apploi.com/profile/american-dream
American Dream laid off about 100 workers during the shutdown and developer Triple Five struggled financially missing three mortgage payments on its Mall of America, which it used as collateral for American Dream financing. Triple Five cut a deal in August to avoid foreclosure.
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A message from the American Dream co-CEOs:
To our American Dream Community:
It has been nearly seven months since we closed our doors due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, and now here on October 1, 2020, we are reopening American Dream to all of you. We are ready to demonstrate what happens when American Dream, our Brand Partners, and our New Jersey community come together to make 3-million-square-feet of entertainment and retail safer than ever before.
We are so excited to show you all the magic at American Dream: our exclusive one-of-a-kind flagship stores like Zara, H&M, Primark, and Aritzia, along with Nickelodeon Universe, DreamWorks Water Park, The Rink, Angry Birds Not So Mini Golf Club, and of course Big SNOW. We have something for everyone, everywhere.
Over the past months, our amazing Dream Makers collaborated across all departments, and looked at many ways to adapt American Dream to the new normal. We focused on doing this right, not quickly, to ensure the safety of our guests and Dream Makers alike. We asked you what you wanted from an American Dream experience, and we turned your answers into action, like adding non-invasive temperature checks at the entrances of our parks and launching our #dreamsafe initiative with Hackensack Meridian Health. We spoke to our Brand Partners to find out how they were rethinking their store environments, product packaging, and selling experience so we as American Dream could build a better experience for you.
All our hard work has paid off, and we are beyond happy to reopen our doors. We look forward to seeing you and your families fill these colorful spaces once more. Come for the entertainment, the shops, the food, and the fun. We invite you to Come, Dream Again.
All the Best,
Don and Mark Ghermezian, Co-CEOs of American Dream
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